Sermons upon the Book of Job

and yet will God have pity upon the child, of such a man. And what will he do? He will rid him quite and clean of all those evil gotten goods, because they would but bring him too confusion: according as it is said, that such kind of riches are as wood, which in the end will kindle the fire of Gods wrath. Therefore when our Lord meaneth too save the child of a wicked man that hath lived amiss: he bereaveth him of all his evil gotten goods, as though he should let him blood to save his life, that he might not be wrapped in the mischief and corruption which his father had drawn unto himself. Behold, how God punisheth the wickedness of the fathers upon the children, and yet ceaseth not to be the Saviour of the children, and too show them mercy. Sometimes he passeth further, and because the fathers have bin so far out of all square, as they have led a stubborn froward life, god forsaketh their offspring, insomuch that the grace of his holy spirit dwelleth not with them. Now when we be so destitute of Gods guiding, we must needs run into destruction, and needs must the mischief increase more and more. Thus we see that when the children of the ungodly do bear the sins of their fathers, it is not only for that God forsaketh them, and leaveth them up in the state of their own nature: but also for that he giveth Satan full power over them, and letteth him have the bridle, too reign in such houses at his own pleasure. And when the divill hath led away the fathers, and carried them too all naughtiness: their children shall also overshoot themselves into excessive outrage. We see then as now what is meant here, that is too wit, that when the children of wicked men are once destitute of Gods grace, and walk after their own inordinate lusts: they must needs come too greater confusion than their Fathers. And thus ye may see why it is said, that they shall be destitute of help, and that they shall fall down at the Gate: that is too wit, because they shall fall, not in a Forrest among Thieves, but by open justice, For in the Scripture the word Cate signifieth judgement, because mens cases are wont too be debated there, and it was the place where common assemblies were made, and finally it was the seat of justice.

and yet will God haue pitie vpon the childe, of such a man. And what will he do? He will ridde him quite and cleane of all those euill gotten goodes, bicause they woulde but bring him too confusion: according as it is sayde, that such kinde of riches are as wood, which in the ende will kindle the fire of Gods wrath. Therefore when our Lorde meeneth too saue the childe of a wicked man that hath liued amisse: hee bereueth him of all hys euill gotten goodes, as though he should let him bloud to saue his life, that he might not be wrapped in the mischief and corruption which his father had drawne vntoo himselfe. Beholde, howe God punisheth the wickednesse of the fathers vppon the children, and yet ceasseth not to bee the Sauiour of the children, and too shewe them mercie. Sometymes hee passeth further, and bicause the fathers haue bin so farre out of al square, as they haue led a stubborne froward life, god forsaketh their ofspring, insomuch that the grace of his holy spirite dwelleth not with them. Nowe when wee bee so destitute of Gods guiding, we muste needes runne intoo destruction, and needes muste the mischiefe increase more and more. Thus we see that when the children of the vngodly doo beare the sinnes of their fathers, it is not onely for that God forsaketh them, and leaueth them vppe in the state of their owne nature: but also for that hee giueth Satan full power ouer them, and letteth him haue the brydle, too raigne in suche houses at his owne pleasure. And when the diuill hath ledde away the fathers, and caryed them too all naughtinesse: their children shall also ouershoote themselues intoo excessiue outrage. VVee see then as nowe what is ment heere, that is too witte, that when the children of wicked men are once destitute of Gods grace, and walke after their owne inordinate lustes: they must needes come too greater confusion than theyr Fathers. And thus yee maye see why it is sayde, that they shall bee destitute of helpe, and that they shall fall downe at the Gate: that is too witte, bycause they shall fall, not in a Forrest among Theeues, but by open iustice, For in the Scripture the worde Cate signifieth iudgement, bycause mens caces are wont too bee debated there, and it was the place where common assemblies were made, and finally it was the seate of iustice.